CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Education and the National Youth Science Camp are launching a state camp in an effort to promote the study of science statewide. Modeled after the national program held in Pocahontas County every summer, the state camp would allow for two rising 10th graders from all 55 counties to participate. The national camp invites two students from every state to attend.
The first state camp is slated for July 10-16 at Cedar Lakes Conference Center near Ripley. The curriculum will mirror that of the national camp.
“Science is critical to preparing today’s students for the 21st century,” said state Superintendent Steve Paine. “This camp will give promising West Virginia students the opportunity to experience science in the real world and prepare them for deeper levels of scientific investigation and understanding.”
The first state summer science camp will see 15 West Virginia teachers serving as facilitators. Fifteen students mentors, chosen from past participants National Youth Science Camp and the Governor’s Honor Academy, also will participate in the camp. Students will be expected to conduct research projects in a real-world context and report findings at four extended weekend follow-up sessions throughout the school year.
Camp participants will experience directed study blocks in science, expert guest lecturers, field trips and will be introduced to the Youth Science Discovery Experience for Extended Learning and Research. The project will be funded by the state Department of Education and the National Youth Science Camp.
For more information, contact Robert Hull, assistant state superintendent, at 304-558-8098, or the Office of Communications at 304-558-2699.
--The West Virginia Board of Education and the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) are committed to ensuring all students in the state are college and career ready when they graduate from a public school. What West Virginia students are learning in school exceeds national and international standards. Through the WVDE’s 21st century learning plan called “Global21: Students deserve it. The world demands it.,” West Virginia is seeing better student performance on the West Virginia Educational Standards Test 2 (WESTEST2); the SAT and the ACT college entrance exams; the job skills assessment called Work Keys given to career and technical education students; and in a high school graduation rate that exceeds the national average.
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